Aquaman: Futures End #1 Review

Written by: Dan Jurgens
Art by: Alvaro Martinez
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 3, 2014

Futures (Rear)End

Okay, we are one week in to the Futures End Event and in my estimation, there are three kinds of issues.  Ones that push the Futures End story forward, ones that aren't necessarily Futures End stories, but are good nonetheless and ones like Aquaman: Futures End #1 that just plain suck.  At least Aquaman gets a pretty cool future outfit.



Things aren't good in Atlantis.  It seems the War has left it in shambles and it's people are starving.  Refuges from Xebel are making matters worse and it seems everyone is blaming Arthur.  Of course he's still pushing his "surface dwellers will help us" line of crap, but nobody but the Outsiders are listening.  In fact, a group of rebels that regular readers will recognize are off on a quest to raise the Dead King, Atlan.  Why call a guy who keeps being resurrected the "Dead King".  Why not the "Dead for now King"?  If it isn't bad enough that Jurgens is going back to that well, the way he's resurrected is ridiculous and too convenient.  Speaking of ridiculous, the way that Jurgens breaks the news and then handles Aquaman's and Mera's spit is awful.  It also seems to be just for shocks sake.

The issue ends in a cliffhanger that will be continued in the Aquaman and the Others Futures End book.  That wouldn't piss me off as much if this issue was a little more stand alone.  It really is all setup for the Others book and in an event like this, that is unforgivable.

Alvaor Martinez does a pretty good job on art.  Yes, I hate when artists leave blank white eyes, but other than that, everything looks good.  The highlight of the issue had to be Aquaman's future costume.  Pretty sleeky, sis.

Bits and Pieces:

Aquaman: Futures End #1 is my least favorite Futures End tie-in yet.  It's exposition heavy, full of awful ideas and pretty much ruins everything that I love about Aquaman's regular run.  To make it worse, it's a setup issue for another book.  Aquaman may get a new kickass outfit, but that, my friends, is not worth $3.99.  Just skip it and save your cash money.

3.0/10